VeloHuman

Tag: Picks

  • Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 6 Preview

    Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 6 Preview

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    Stage 6: Ponte › Roccaraso – 157km

    The Giro may have opened with three relatively easy to predict stages, but Thursday’s Stage 6 marks the third straight tough one. Only 157 kilometers in length, the stage nevertheless involves a whole lot of climbing—while only officially including two Cat. 2 climbs.

    As the profile indicates, however, both categorized ascents are each part of longer stretches of uphill roads that will wear down the peloton. The climb to the finish is officially just under 18km at a little over 4%. The long, low-gradient climb (coming after several other long uphill stretches on the stages) won’t win anyone the Giro d’Italia, but it will drop the sprinters. With fewer teams around trying to keep the stage together for a bunch kick, but nothing so steep as to force a GC showdown, this could be a great opportunity for the long-range attackers. On the other hand, if the pink jersey contenders do contest the victory as a group, this looks like a prime opportunity for Alejandro Valverde, who can outgun the rest of his rivals at the finish line. His speed is well-documented, and it makes him the man to beat among the GC hopefuls.

    Diego Ulissi should be excited about this stage as well. He already has one win in the bag. Stage 6 is another great opportunity for the Italian with a fast finish.

    Climbing stars Mikel Landa, Esteban Chaves, Ilnur Zakarin, and Vincenzo Nibali are all candidates to get involved at the finish as well, but it might be too easy of a day for them to really shine. As such, I like Tom Dumoulin‘s chances a bit better. He has a faster finish than many realize. So does Rigoberto Urán.

    If this stage does come down to a long-distance move, watch out for Valverde’s Movistar teammate Giovanni Visconti, who thrives on stages like this. Gianluca Brambilla, Stefano Pirazzi, Alessandro De Marchi, Tim Wellens, and even Damiano Cunego are other potential protagonists from afar.

    VeloHuman Stage 6 Favorites

    1. Alejandro Valverde | 2. Diego Ulissi | 3. Giovanni Visconti

  • Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 5 Preview

    Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 5 Preview

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    Stage 5: Praia a Mare › Benevento – 233km

    The Giro’s fifth stage, much like Stage 4, won’t be easy to predict. There is only one small categorized climb on the day and it comes very early in the stage, but the road to Benevento does have some hills along the way, and this is a very long stage at 233 kilometers. More importantly, the finish is tricky: the final kilometer is a cobbled ascent at around 3.4%.

    All those features will make Stage 5 a tough one to control, and even if things come down to a bunch gallop in the peloton, it’s no guarantee that the marquee sprinters will be at their best on a finishing climb like this.

    Should the peloton reel in any long-range attackers before the line, Marcel Kittel would probably be the obvious pick for a sprint, but he might not be my first choice. He is looking more versatile these days than he used to, but I still think this finish might be a bit tough for the Etixx rider.

    Arnaud Démare, on the other hand, should like his chances. He’s done well on slightly uphill finishes in the past, he can handle cobblestones, and he doesn’t mind a long day in the saddle (as evidenced by his Milano-Sanremo victory). He also looks very good right now.

    André Greipel, who has recently shown some ability in the Spring Classics, is another rider who might be able to use the tricky finish to his advantage. The same could be said for Giacomo Nizzolo, who loves the longer days.

    Sacha Modolo is another sprinter who may fare well at the finish, while Caleb Ewan and Elia Viviani are both quick enough that maybe the small cobbled climb won’t matter.

    Diego Ulissi, Matteo Trentin, and Sonny Colbrelli could be in the mix if the purer sprinters are dropped from bunch. So could Ramunas Navardauskas.

    And if the stage goes to a breakaway, don’t be surprised if Lotto-Soudal takes the victory: Tim Wellens and Adam Hansen should both like the look of Stage 5.

    VeloHuman Stage 5 Favorites

    1. Arnaud Démare | 2. André Greipel | 3. Marcel Kittel

  • Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 3 Preview

    Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 3 Preview

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    Stage 3: Nijmegen › Arnhem – 190km

    After Marcel Kittel’s Stage 2 victory, Giro fans may be in for a bit of déjà vu on Stage 3. The 190km stage starts in Nijmegen and finishes in Arnhem (the reverse of Saturday’s start/finish location) and only real climb on profile is a single Cat. 4 ,, into likely to have much of an attempt.

    With all that said it’s hard not to pick against the rider who won Stage 2, Marcel Kittel.

    The German rider should be able to take advantage of the flat parcours and put his impressive kick to the the test. At his best, Kittel is the best sprinter in the world, and at least recently, Kittel has looked very much like the rider who has eight Tour de France stage wins to his name.

    André Greipel was not much of a factor on Stage 2, but he’s capable of having a big impact even in this strong field, if he can position himself well for the finale.

    Caleb Ewan was also a bit of a disappointment, but it wouldn’t be wise to count the Aussie out on Stage 3.

    Sacha Modolo, Arndaud Démare, Giacomo Nizzolo, and Elia Viviani are others with a shot.

    VeloHuman Stage 3 Favorites

    1. Marcel Kittel | 2 . André Greipel | 3. Caleb Ewan

  • Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 2 Preview

    Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 2 Preview

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    Stage 2: Arnhem › Nijmegen – 190km

    After Tom Dumoulin’s home victory in Stage 1, the Giro continues with a sprinter-friendly Stage 2 in the Netherlands. There isn’t a whole lot to say about the route, as the only climb of the day, a Cat. 4, shouldn’t present much of a challenge for anyone. There are a few corners in the finale, including a left hook inside the final kilometer, but this should be a day for the fast finishers.

    At his best, Marcel Kittel is the fastest rider in this field, and his 5th place finish in the TT would suggest that he’s feeling very strong right now. The Etixx rider is the man to beat in Stage 2. André Greipel looks to be his likeliest challenger, though don’t count out Caleb Ewan. He hasn’t had too much opportunities to face off against competition like this in a race this big, but that doesn’t mean he won’t factor.

    Sacha Modolo and an always-effective Lampre Giro leadout could be in the mix as well, along with the speedy Elia Viviani and the ever-present Giacomo Nizzolo. Jakub Mareczko, Arnaud Démare, and Matteo Pelucchi are others to keep an eye on out of a very impressive list of sprinters at this Giro.

    VeloHuman Stage 2 Favorites

    1. Marcel Kittel | 2. Andre Greipel | 3. Caleb Ewan

    Be sure to check out my overall race preview over at VeloNews, and don’t miss the Recon Ride’s pre-race show! Giacomo Nizzolo and Jakob Fuglsang both make an appearance in the podcast.

  • Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 1 Preview

    Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 1 Preview

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    Stage 1: Apeldoorn › Apeldoorn – 9.8km (ITT)

    The 2016 Giro d’Italia opens in the Netherlands with a short, flat time trial. Without any climbs to speak of and good weather in the forecast, the corners will be the only real challenge on the day. Expect the specialists to shine here in the first battle for the pink jersey. In particular, those with top-end speed will like their chances.

    Fabian Cancellara and Tom Dumoulin are the two big favorites here, though Cancellara apparently has the flu, which could make this Dumoulin’s to lose. He won’t have many opportunities like this to take a Giro stage win in his home country, and this TT suits him well.

    Jos Van Emden is another home rider with a chance. He’s been a bit quiet since his second-place ride in the Tour of Qatar’s stage 2 TT, but he showed at last year’s Eneco Tour TT just how good he can be when things go his way. Bob Jungels, Anton Vorobyev, Mathias Brandle, Jack Bobridge, and Ramunas Narvadauskas are others who could be in the mix.

    Keep an eye on Mikel Landa and Esteban Chaves on the day. The time trial mileage in this Giro could be the biggest challenge for both riders, and Stage 1 will be a good opportunity to get an idea of where they are in terms of form against the clock right now before the more critical Stage 9 ITT.

    VeloHuman Stage Favorites

    1. Tom Dumoulin | 2. Fabian Cancellara | 3. Jos Van Emden.

    Be sure to check out my overall race preview over at VeloNews, and don’t miss the Recon Ride’s pre-race show! Giacomo Nizzolo and Jakob Fuglsang both make an appearance in the podcast.

  • The Recon Ride Podcast: Giro d’Italia 2016, Part I

    The Recon Ride Podcast: Giro d’Italia 2016, Part I

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    Episode 42: Giro d’Italia 2016 Show, Part I

    Grand Tour cycling is upon us! The Recon previews the Giro d’Italia, covering the overall parcours and contenders, and taking a closer look at the first nine stages of the race.

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    Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano look ahead to the first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro d’Italia, with particular focus on the first several stages. Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang and Trek-Segafredo’s Giacomo Nizzolo lend a hand with previewing the action.

    Photo by ENGIE Italia (CC).